Foster Care & Adoption Programs

LCS’ Therapeutic Foster Care Program serves children and youth ages 6-17 that are referred through the Department of Children and Family Services. Children and Youth who are experiencing behavioral challenges receive intensive support services. These services aide in behavioral stabilization and the overall goal of helping the child learn new coping skills.

The program has served the community of Spokane for over 20 years and has gained national recognition for its wrap around approach to care and commitment to children and families.

Families receive:

•

Youth and behavioral parenting support

•

Intensive case management

•

24-hour on-call services

•

Weekly support meetings

•

Initial ongoing traning

•

Aide support

•

A generous compensation package

Youth receive:

•

Foster care placement

•

Individual counseling/behavioral support

•

Skill development

•

Participation in school and work

•

24-hour on-call services

•

Intensive case management

•

Psycho-pharmacology services

•

Aide support

•

Community Connections and support services

Have you considered foster parenting?

If you are able to do the following, then you have what it takes to change a child’s life:

Recognize and meet a child’s emotional and physical needs

Work as a team member with social workers and program staff

Provide a room and space for a child in your home

Provide adequate income for support of yourself and your family

Maintain adequate personal and mental health

Since our foster children have special needs, they require special people to offer them a safe and loving home. As an LCS foster parent, you will receive intensive support services developed to ensure that you never face a challenge alone. See the inside panels to learn more about the services available to our foster parents. Additionally, we offer a generous compensation package to parents in all of our foster care programs.

LCS presents the new Unaccompanied Refugee Minor (URM) Program and are currently seeking individuals and families interested in fostering these youth. The URM program will allow for refugee children, under the age of 18, to be placed in foster homes in and around Spokane, Washington.

Foster parents and program staff will work together to provide a safe haven to refugee and immigrant children from around the world. Refugee youth will be supported in their work to heal from past trauma while they pursue goals of learning English, getting an education and preparing for a future of independence. Foster families are asked to make a long-term commitment to the care of the refugee child placed in their home.

Informational meetings for the Unaccompanied Refugee Minor Program will occur on the second Tuesday of every month from 5:30-7:30pm at 210 W. Sprague, Spokane WA 99201.

The Adoption Program serves families in Eastern Washington by providing Homestudy and Post-Placement services for all types of adoptions including:

International, Including Hague Convention

Domestic

Private

Step-Parent or Relative

Nora Searing, M.A. is our adoption worker in Eastern Washington. She has been with Lutheran Community Services Northwest since 1990, helping hundreds of families through the journey of adoption. Nora is highly respected within the adoption community for her professional experience with all types of adoption, specialized knowledge of the international adoption process, paperwork and report writing skills, and her helpful, supportive approach.